Infections and autoimmune disorders may increase the risk of developing depression or another mood disorder later in life, a study from Denmark suggests.
The study included more than 3 million people and found that those who were hospitalized for infections were 62 percent more likely to later develop a mood disorder. And those hospitalized for an autoimmune disease were 45 percent more likely to develop a mood disorder.
Researchers say the risk of mood disorders increased with the number of times a person was hospitalized. Those hospitalized three times with infections during the study had double the risk of a mood disorder, and those who were hospitalized seven times had triple the risk.
The findings support the theory that inflammation, from either an infection or autoimmune disease, may affect the brain in a way that raises the risk of mood disorders.
However, the study only found an association and cannot prove that infections or autoimmune diseases are the cause of mood disorders. It's possible that other factors, such as stress or the experience of hospitalization, may explain the link, health experts say.
Home births safe, data suggests
New research shows that giving birth at home is safe for mothers.
There are more deliveries reported with complications at hospitals than there are with home births.
Of course, that could be because of a difference in the reporting policy
Only one in 1,000 woman who gave birth at home had severe problems.